8 



JOURNAL OK HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 



t January 1, 1874. 



ledge of entomology to be aware that the destruction of humble 

 bees in winter has much more effect towards the diminution 

 of the race than the killing of a corresponding quantity in the 

 summer time. 



The prejudice against humble bees in the minds of some 

 does not so much arise from a dread of the sting of these 

 insects— for indeed it is very commonly, though erroneously, 

 beUeved that they have no power to sting ; but it is a matter 

 of everyday observation with those engaged in horticulture 

 that a humble bee, busy according to the proverbial character 

 of the race, and seeking for honey, very often attacks the out- 

 side of a flower and cuts through the petals with its mandibles. 

 This, which is not the invariable practice of any species, arises 

 simply from the inability of the insects to reach the honey 

 lying at the bottom of long corollas. To a very small extent, 

 therefore, humble bees may be said to be disfigurers of flowers, 

 yet they cannot deserve to rest under the stigma of belonging 

 to the injurious insects, but quite the contrary, since they help 

 in no small degree towards the fertilisation both of garden 

 flowers and the bloom of fruit trees by conveying poUeu from 

 place to place. It might 

 be pleaded in addition 

 that several of the Bombi 

 are decidedly handsome 

 insects, and Ijy their live- 

 ly motions, and pleasant 

 though perhaps mono- 

 tonous hum, gratify our 

 SDsthetic sense. All, how- 

 ever, have not admired 

 their vocal performances, 

 or the insects would not 

 have got the name of 

 " Bumble bees " or " Dum- 

 bledores," and these, or 

 at least the former, got 

 transmuted into " Hum- 

 ble bees," — surely not by 

 a cockney ! It would be a 

 mistaken inference to sup- 

 pose that these Hyme- 

 noptera have any notable 

 amount of humility as 

 compared with their bre- 

 thren. Also in some coun- 

 ties they have been known 

 as " Foggies," possibly 

 " Fogies ;" and certainly 

 humble bees have at times 

 a fussy way of going about 

 which might subject them 

 to the charge of old-fogi- 

 uess. In disposition they 

 are most pacific both to- 

 wards other insects and 

 mankind, though through 

 a brief period, during the 

 hatching of the eggs of 



the neuters, they are more ready to stand on the defensive. 

 At most times the roof of the nest may even be raised and the 

 structure examined without provoking the owners to use their 

 stings, for stings they have, excepting the male humble bees. 

 It must be confessed that in their economy they differ from the 

 bee of our hives. Monarchical traditions have no hold upon 

 these insects, for humble bees are strict republicans. 



But as to their botanical labours ? Without discussing here 

 what is or is not the usual practice of other bees, we find three 

 theories afloat auent the doings of the humble bees. Some 

 say that they wander, led only by the impulse of the moment, 

 from flower to flower; others, again, assert that in their excur- 

 sions they confine themselves to one species, at least for each 

 day; while a third belief is, that when collecting they visit 

 plants of one family, or at least, if not quite so general as that, 

 then those alike in appearance and odour, belonging to the 

 same genus or to kindred genera. As bearing upon the subject, 

 a statement has been quoted from old Samuel Purchas, who 

 wrote upon bees in the days of Cromwell. He says, " Bees 

 have this property, that whatsoever flower they first begin with 

 when they go to work, they meddle with no other that journey, 

 but lade themselves with such meat alone as that kind yieldeth. 



* From Figuier's " Insect World," published by Messrs. Casaell. 



Fig. 1.— Nest of the Moes Humble Cee (Bombas musconim).* 



This is a common but no catholic (i.e., universal) custom." 

 And he proceeds to show that if their supply of honey or pollen 

 runs short they will go to any plant that will serve their pur- 

 pose without regard to species. As no apiarian I hesitate to 

 give an opinion as if ex cathedra, even with regard to the 

 humble bee. But it cannot have escaped the notice of most 

 naturahsts that this insect, as contrasted with the hive bee, is 

 of a more roving turn. I can hardly see that the one-species 

 theory can be maintained with reference to it. Were it so, 

 not much credit would be due to it for anything done in the 

 way of fertilisation. That these insects exercise a " natural 

 selection " of some sort is obvious, yet it does not follow that 

 at any particular time all the residents in a district pursue the 

 same plan. Different hives or colonies may vary. 



The humble bees that await, through the rains and frosts of 

 winter, the coming-in of the vernal season, are all of them of 

 the fair sex. Ancient ladies they, as age is reckoned in their 

 communities, yet not maidens, for each one becomes a proUfic 

 parent in the spring. Having shaken off the drowsiness of a 

 six or seven-months sleep, the first object of the survivors of 



the brood of the previous 

 year is to discover a suit- 

 able spot for the location 

 of a colony. The abode 

 may be constructed of 

 moss or grass, if such be 

 the habit of the particu- 

 lar species ; or should it 

 be one that has an un- 

 derground nest, the fe- 

 males fly in search of 

 some hole already exca- 

 vated : the deserted nest 

 of a mouse or the gallery 

 of a mole is applicable 

 for the purpose. " Many 

 hands make light work," 

 and the mother in pro- 

 spective of a happy fa- 

 mily of humble bees find j 

 that assistance will be a 

 desideratum. Hence it 

 is with great interest that 

 the females watch for the 

 appearance of the first 

 hatch, composed only of 

 neuters, which work dili- 

 gently at the task of ex- 

 tending the cells and 

 carry on the general 

 business of the colony. 

 Aware, seemingly, by her 

 instinct that the failure 

 of this brood would upset 

 all her hopes of success^ 

 it is just at the season 

 when the neuters ought 

 to come forth that the 

 female humble bee proves pugnacious and even spiteful. 



The discrimination of the different bees commonly called 

 humble bees (Bombi) is not an easy matter, and the separation 

 of some of the species cannot be effected without examination 

 by the microscope. In one species we often perceive a marked 

 difference of size in the case of individuals of the same sex ; 

 but as a rule the females are largest, the males next in pro- 

 portion, and the workers orneuters least of the three, averaging 

 only half the size of the female. The insect known as the 

 Carding or Moss Humble Bee (B. muscorum) has had its 

 history ably described by Reaumur, his account being published 

 by our Eennie, supplemented by his own observations, which 

 are here, as usual, very truthful. These Carders, at the season 

 they are most engaged in transporting moss to their nests, 

 work in line, passing the materials along from one to the other, 

 the last hauling each packet of moss, alter it has been carded, 

 into the nest. As the first in the line seizes the materials, 

 cards them, and then passes the moss to the next, and each 

 succeeding bee has only to push it by means of its legs towards 

 the next, the work of the first is heaviest ; probably it is relieved 

 at intervals. This nest (jiu. 1) is furnished with a dome of 

 moss or dried plants, the base resting on the earth — only, how- 

 ever, upon a sUght hollow, the cells not being entirely beneath 

 the ground, as in the familiar B. terrestris. 



